Transit Safety

Public transportation is often praised for being a sustainable and equitable mode of transportation. But for many women, especially those from low-income backgrounds, public transit systems can be full of many safety concerns that significantly impact their daily lives.​

The Reality of Women's Safety on Public Transit:

Studies are consistently showing that women experience higher rates of harassment and violence on public transportation compared to men. According to a report by the FIA Foundation, women and girls frequently face both physical and verbal harassment while using public transport worldwide. These experiences are also often underreported, and men will tend to underestimate the prevalence of these issues or attribute them to social norms around gender.

In the United States, the situation is no different. A study examining women's safety and security on public transit found that personal security events, which include assaults and robberies, are a significant concern, even if statistically rare. Gender-based violence for non-binary and gender non-conforming people is also a regular occurrence, leading non-binary and gender non-conforming people to have the highest concerns of safety on transit. The perception of danger can be as impactful as actual incidents, leading many gender-minority individuals to change their travel behavior as a result.

The "Safety Work" Women Take On

To navigate these risks, women often engage in what's termed "safety work", which is a series of strategies and behaviors aimed to minimizing exposure to potential harm. This includes altering routes, avoiding certain transit lines or times, and even changing clothing choices. These strategies are not only inconvenient, they reflect a larger systemic failure to provide safe and accessible public transportation for all users.

The Financial Burden

Safety concerns also then lead to financial burdens on Women. In New York City, for instance, women spend an additional $26 to $50 per month on transportation due to safety concerns, often going for taxis or other ride-hailing services over public transit. This behavior, which is often referred to as the "pink tax," disproportionately affects women who are primary caregivers, with costs rising to $76 per month.

Global Perspectives and Initiatives

Globally, there have been various initiatives implemented to address women's safety on public transit. In Paris, a pilot program allows passengers to disembark at any point along certain bus routes at night to reduce walking distances and potential exposure to danger. The city has also increased the presence of plain-clothed safety monitors and installed video surveillance on buses and trains.

In the Bay Area, the "Not One More Girl" campaign which was led by a group of teenagers, successfully advocated for policy changes within the BART system. This included bystander intervention training and improved reporting mechanisms for harassment. Locally at Metro Transit, they recently implemented their TRIP program that includes additional security that check fares and provide visual safety assurances for passengers. While it isn't explicitly aimed at reducing violence and harassment for women specifically, these broader safety measures can help at combating violence and harassment.

The Need for Gender-Responsive Transit Planning

Addressing these issues requires a shift in how transit systems are planned and operated. Traditional transit planning often overlooks the unique needs of women and caregivers, who are more likely to engage in "trip chaining", making multiple stops during a single journey for tasks like dropping off children or grocery shopping. Transit schedules and routes designed primarily for 9-to-5 commuters don't typically accommodate these unique travel patterns.​

In addition, the lack of gender-disaggregated data slows the development of effective solutions. Cities like London have made strides by collecting and utilizing the data to inform transit policies. In contrast, many U.S. cities lag behind, lacking the necessary data to address gender disparities in transit safety and accessibility. 

Even when research data includes women, it often fails to include more than a binary representation of gender. The studies that do consider non-binary people often still fail to produce results related to non-binary people because of low response rates. For non-binary folks in particular, specific outreach is needed to increase trust in research and to provide enough data for results to be usable or generalizable.

Recommendations for Safer Transit Systems

To create safer and more inclusive public transportation, transit agencies and policymakers should consider the following steps:

1. Data Collection and Analysis: Implement comprehensive data collection methods that capture gender-specific experiences and needs for both women and non-binary folks.

2. Infrastructure Improvements: Enhance lighting, install surveillance cameras, and ensure clear visibility at transit stops and stations.​

3. Training and Awareness: Provide training for transit staff on handling harassment and create public awareness campaigns to address unacceptable behaviors.

4. Flexible Transit Options: Offer services like on-demand stops during late hours to reduce walking distances and potential exposure to danger.​

5. Community Engagement: Involve women and marginalized groups in transit planning processes to ensure their needs are adequately addressed.​

Women's safety on public transit is not just a matter of individual concern but a reflection of broader societal values and priorities. By acknowledging and addressing the unique challenges women face, we can move toward a more equitable and safe public transportation system for all.